Our April 20, 2025 Meeting Is An Open Forum Meeting Parkinson's (PD) patients newly diagnosed (5 years or less) will be seated with PD patients who have more than 5 years of PD experience. Any guest (care partner, family member, neighbor, etc.) will also be seated with their PD patient. Anyone who is only interested in learning about PD will be scattered among the tables. To help us match attendees of different years of PD experience, when you sign in at the door, you will be asked one of the following questions: Are you a PD patient diagnosed 5 years or less? Are you a PD patient diagnosed more than 5 years ago? Are you not a patient or care partner, but just interested in learning about PD? Based on your answer, we will give you a slip of colored paper. By using the paper colors, one of our volunteers will seat you and your guests at a table. We understand that sitting at a table with strangers discussing personal topics may be uncomfortable, but please keep in mind that everyone at this meeting has an interest in learning how to live successfully with Parkinson's. To help start the table […]

PLEASE NOTE: We are required to have name tags issued for everyone for this event – it is a security issue for SCETV – if your name is not on the pre-registration list, we will not be allowed to admit you. Thanks for helping us comply with this security requirement. If you need help registering, call (803) 335-4247 or email contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org. Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group 2025 Annual Free Patient/Care Partner Symposium Pre-registration is required – absolute deadline to register is Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Time: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM – Attendee Sign-in opens at 8:30, program starts at 9:30 Location: SCETV – Murray Studio 1041 George Rogers Blvd. Columbia, SC 29201-4761 The Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group is pleased to host this free patient/care partner symposium in our 40th Year! Doors Open at 8:30 for check in. Continental breakfast will be available from 8:30 to 9:30 AM, and lunch will be available from 11:30 to 1:00 PM. We will have two sessions: Gentle Chair Yoga From 9:30 AM to 9:50 AM: Cindy Smith - Chair Yoga – will open our symposium Chair Yoga is a gentle form of exercise, is practiced sitting or standing using […]

The presentation will be about Vyalev, the first and only subcutaneous levodopa-based therapy. Replaces all oral carbidopa/levodopa and COMT inhibitors Drug/device combo that gives 24-hour continuous delivery of carbidopa/levodopa Gives patients superior “on” time vs. oral medication No surgical procedure required Our speaker will be Christina Mayo. Christina Mayo is an Account Executive with Abbvie Neuroscience based in Greenville SC. She received her BS in Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina in 2010. Christina has been in the medical sales industry since 2010, specifically in the Parkinson’s Disease space since 2016. Contact: Christina N. Mayo, Parkinson’s Account Executive, South Carolina & S. Georgia AbbVie Neuroscience Office : 1 (864) 982-6940 EMAIL : christina.mayo@abbvie.com

Our support group historically does not meet in June, as the 3rd Sunday is Father’s Day. However, this year, our president, Karen Basso, has offered to be at our usual meeting location (Lexington Medical Park I Auditorium, 2728 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC 29169) at 3 PM for anyone who might like to come and just talk with one another. This will not be structured, like our Open Forum meetings, it will simply be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to get together and talk about anything related to Parkinson’s Disease. We are very pleased to also let everyone know that Dr. Myriam J. Sollman, from Prisma Health Neurosurgery, has volunteered to join us that day. Dr. Sollman is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in aging and movement disorders. She obtained her doctorate from the University of Kentucky, completed a residency at the University of Florida, and postdoctoral fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute, which houses the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center. She joined us here in Columbia 2017 from Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she built a neuropsychology program. Dr. Sollman’s research interests include movement disorders and memory disorders. She serves as a reviewer for several professional journals […]

Our July 20, 2025 Meeting Is An Open Forum Meeting Parkinson's (PD) patients newly diagnosed (5 years or less) will be seated with PD patients who have more than 5 years of PD experience. Any guest (care partner, family member, neighbor, etc.) will also be seated with their PD patient. Anyone who is only interested in learning about PD will be scattered among the tables. To help us match attendees of different years of PD experience, when you sign in at the door, you will be asked one of the following questions: Are you a PD patient diagnosed 5 years or less? Are you a PD patient diagnosed more than 5 years ago? Are you not a patient or care partner, but just interested in learning about PD? Based on your answer, we will give you slip of colored paper. By using the paper colors, one of our volunteers will seat you and your guests at a table. We understand that sitting at a table with strangers discussing personal topics may be uncomfortable, but please keep in mind that everyone at this meeting has an interest in learning how to live successfully with Parkinson's. To help start the table discussions, […]

Our main speaker for August 17, 2025 is Scott Cooke. Scott is the Communications and Public Information Director for the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) where he provides education on financial literacy topics and identity theft & scam prevention. Cooke joined SCDCA in October of 2021 as the agency’s Social Media and Web Strategist. He is an Emmy Award winner with more than 20 years of experience in broadcast journalism as a producer and newsroom manager. Cooke is a graduate from the University of South Carolina. Topic: Identity Theft and Scams: How to Stay Safe New scams are popping up every day and identity theft is costly and time consuming. Learn the red flags of a scam and the FREE ways to protect your information. With these tools, you won’t end up giving over your hard-earned money or your private information. Contact: Scott Cooke, Communications Director SC Department of Consumer Affairs 293 Greystone Blvd., Suite 400 Columbia, SC 29210 Toll free (800).922-1594 or (803) 734-4296 (direct) – (803) 413-8167 (cell) Second brief speaker (approx.15 minutes): Jamie Scott, owner, Jamie Scott Fitness – update on the specially designed exercise and education program for Parkinson’s patients.

Panel Discussion: “In-Home Help/Residential Facilities” This is an opportunity to ask all of your questions about what type of additional help may be best for you as a Parkinson’s patient, and in conjunction with your care partner (if you have one), how to make the best decisions regarding home healthcare versus residential facilities, and understanding the various types of residential facilities available. Panelists: Ramona Britt and Valerie Koeppen, Assisted Living Locators of Greater Columbia. Ramona stepped into the role of Assisted Living Locators franchise owner to provide guidance and care to seniors and families in our community. As a longtime resident of Columbia, Ramona is an expert on senior care options in our area. Together with clients and their families, they strive to deliver high quality, compassionate service and help families manage the transitions they are facing. Valerie joined Assisted Living Locators as a senior living advisor. After previously working as a licensed mental health counselor, she now helps families navigate through the maze of senior living options. Valerie excels at advocating and helping families through what can be a confusing process. Mike Brown, Vice President of Operations, Right at Home. Mike joined the Right at Home team in 2013 […]

Speaker: Lisa Hostetler Brown, J.D., CELA* Managing Attorney *Certified as an Elder Law Attorney Lisa Hostetler Brown is the Managing Attorney of LawyerLisa, LLC. Her firm concentrates on the areas of estate planning, wills and trusts, real estate, contract review, special needs trusts, probate law and Life Care Planning. LawyerLisa's focus is to better serve her clients in an easy to understand and accessible manner. Keeping pace with the changing market, timely communication with clients and agents and thoughtful legal advice are the cornerstones of the firm. Under these principles, Lisa has been recognized for consecutive years as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in addition to Legal Elite of the Midlands. About LawyerLisa, LLC: Serving the entire state of South Carolina from locations in Northeast Columbia, Lexington,and the Upstate, LawyerLisa, LLC (LawyerLisa) focuses on elder law, estate planning, wills, trusts, health care directives, powers of attorney, asset titling, special needs trusts, Life Care Planning, and more; delivering comprehensive planning with a personalized approach. During her presentation on October 15th, Lisa will cover the following key areas: • The earlier someone plans after a diagnosis, the more options they have down the road • Everyone should have a durable financial power […]

Topic: Deep Brain Stimulation and Focused Ultrasound How do I know if I need DBS or Focused Ultrasound? How is DBS different from Focused Ultrasound? How to decide between DBS and Focused Ultrasound? What should I expect in a DBS/FUS evaluation? What is the screening process like? What is the surgery like? What are other non-surgical options? Speakers: Dr. Gonzalvo Revuelta, DO, MS, is Professor of Neurology, and SmartState Endowed Chair in Neurodegenerative Disorders at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Revuelta also directs the Murray Center for Research In Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders and is the Medical Director of the Deep Brain Stimulation Program. His NIH funded research program focuses on the development of invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation interventions for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. He has a DO in medicine from the School of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He completed a residency in neurology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and a fellowship in movement disorders at Emory University in Atlanta. His primary research focus is the development of neuromodulation therapies for freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dr. Nathan C. Rowland, […]

Kit Batina is a financial services professional specializing in long-term care planning and elder finances. She holds a Masters Degree in Health Services Management and Policy from George Washington University. She is a former nursing home administrator who helps advise people on how to save money on paying for long-term care expenses. Kit’s topic is “Long Term Care Planning – How Not To Go Broke”. Kit will discuss: The need for long term care services and the cost; The various options to pay for long term care; Examples of managing long term care costs as a couple vs. as a single. And take your questions. Contact: Email: kbatina24@gmail.com Telephone: (650) 226-6094